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Baton Rouge, LA (April 10, 2002) - The O’Reilly SUPR Late Model’s return to action this weekend with a doubleheader starting out on Friday night with a return visit to Memphis Motorsports Park for the SUPR Shootout at the Park. The O’Reilly SUPR Late Models will then cross the muddy Mississippi and head to I-30 Speedway for a Saturday night of action. The O’Reilly SUPR Late Models return to Memphis for the first time since 1998, when Ronnie Poche topped the field in an intense 40-lap caution free battle. Much has changed since that time for both the track and the O’Reilly SUPR Late Models. Numerous improvements have been made to Memphis Motorsports Park including the addition of Dirt Late Models to the weekly racing schedule for 2002 and the addition of O’Reilly Auto Parts as sponsor of the Thunder Racing Series. While on the SUPR front, O’Reilly Auto Parts has been the Title Sponsor for the series since 1999, a Sprint Car division was started in 2002 and a whole new crop of competitors have joined the series. In 1998 Jay Blair was a rookie competitor on the O’Reilly SUPR Late Model trail. In 2002 Blair is once again a rookie, but now he’s a rookie competing on the USAR Hooters Pro Cup circuit having claimed the last two O’Reilly SUPR Late Models Championships. Blair’s departure has opened the door for several new drivers and 2000 Late Model America Rookie of the Year Rodney Wing of Meridian, Mississippi has returned to challenge for the title and he’s off to an incredible start recording a top 5 finish in each of the first 4 races including a victory at Baton Rouge Raceway on March 29th. Another new face up front is Lettsworth, Louisiana’s James Ward. Ward, a former UMP Modified competitor, is running in his first full season of Dirt Late Model competition and he has been impressive recording three top ten finishes in SUPR competition including a season high third place finish at Pike County Speedway in February. Ward has also been strong in competition beyond the O’Reilly SUPR tour recording a solid sixth place finish in the James King Memorial this past weekend at Columbus Speedway. Springfield, Louisiana’s fastest alligator farmer, Chris Wall has been another new face to emerge in 2002. Wall, a co-owner of Wall 2 Wall Performance Engines, has recorded two top five finishes and three top ten finishes in four events. Right behind Wall is one of his customers, 19-year-old Plaquemine, Louisiana competitor Sam Patrick. Patrick clinched two track championships at Baton Rouge Raceway and Pike County Speedway in 2001 and he has his eyes on a higher goal in 2002. He’s recorded a season best runner-up finish at Lone Star Speedway on March 22nd. Following these young competitors is a group of veteran competitors lead by Kenny Merchant, a winner of both legs of the Mardi Gras Nationals in February at Pike County Speedway. Merchant has climbed to 6th on the all-time SUPR victory list but he has a long way to go to catch Ronny Adams, who is tied with Poche for second on the list with 26 victories. Adams nearly broke the tie at Baton Rouge Raceway, leading 42 of the 50 laps before being passed by Rodney Wing with 2 laps to go. 1999 O’Reilly SUPR Champion David Ashley is expected along with teammate, Randy Cook. Ashley has struggled as of late but recorded two top 10 finishes to start the year and he has been tough to beat in local competition in South Louisiana and Mississippi. Marlon Wild is another veteran competitor that has had as much success in local competition as he has had on the SUPR circuit. Wild has recorded three top ten finishes while racking up two victories at Pike County Speedway. And while Memphis Motorsports Park is a welcome addition to the 2002 O’Reilly SUPR tour, I-30 Speedway has been a mainstay on the SUPR circuit. Last year the O’Reilly SUPR Late Models visited I-30 on four occasions and a pair of Arkansas drivers topped the last two events. Both drivers claimed their first O’Reilly SUPR victories in the process. First it was the 2001 Late Model America/Ashley Brothers/B&K Undergound Rookie of the Year Odie Green from Fouke, Arkansas claiming the first of two SUPR victories last year winning the June 16th event. Then it was veteran Arkansas engine builder Keith Craft, from Arkadelphia, Arkansas claiming the 2001 Arkansas State Championship in September. Craft is expected to be on hand despite a harrowing encounter with a freight train while leaving Jackson Motor Speedway last weekend. Craft and his crewman Ken Fendley emerged with minor cuts and bruises but the same could not be said for the race car and trailer. The O’Reilly SUPR Shootout at the Park will get underway with the pits opening at 4:00 p.m., hot laps are for 7:00 p.m. and the heat races get underway at 8:00 p.m. Spectator gates open at 5:00 p.m. General admission is $15.00 for adults and $2.00 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Joining the O’Reilly SUPR Late Models will be the Brim’s Snack Foods Hobby Stock Division and the Crankshaft Specialist Mini Stock Division. Memphis Motorsports Park is located on Fite Road off Highway 51 in Millington, Tennessee, just 15 minutes north of Memphis. For more information contact Memphis Motorsports Park at (901) 358-7223. Saturday night’s O’Reilly SUPR Late Model action at I-30 Speedway will get underway when the gates open at 5:00 p.m. and the racing starts at 8:00 p.m. Adult admission will be $15.00 and kids 6-12 will be $2.00 when accompanied by an adult. Kids 5 and under will be free. Joining the O’Reilly SUPR Late Models at I-30 Speedway will be the IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks and Hobby Stocks with each division racing for an increased purse Saturday night. I-30 Speedway is located just off Interstate 30 at the County Line Road Exit #126. For more information contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567. The O’Reilly SUPR Late Model Series corporate sponsors for 2002: Hoosier Tire Southwest, J&J Motorsports, Keith Craft Race Engines, Larry Shaw Race Cars, GRT Race Cars, Ashley Brothers Race Cars, Clausen's Racing, Bert Transmission, B&K Underground, AFCO, Brodix, Schoenfeld, Late Model America, Marlee's Embroidery, Warrior Race Cars, Lloyd Wild Logging, Hinchman Uniforms, Wall 2 Wall Performance Engines, Boland Performance, Dynatech, Borla Mufflers, Dura-Lite Racing Wheels, Breaux Petroleum, and Lone Star Super Gas. O’Reilly SUPR Late Model Standings as of March 29, 2002: 1. #10 Rodney Wing, Meridian MS - 487 2. #3J James Ward, Lettsworth, LA - 386 3. #71 Chris Wall, Springfield, LA - 385 4. #6p Sam Patrick, Plaquemine, LA - 376 5. #48 Marlon Wild, Springfield, LA - 367 6. #R25 Ryan Plaisance, Westwego, LA - 364 7. #c28 Kenny Merchant, West Monroe, LA - 358 8. #5m Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, TX - 337 9. #14 David Ashley, Zachary, LA - 313 10. #6x Rob Litton, Alexandria, LA - 261 11. #52 Eric Courville, Gonzales, LA - 239 12. #15 Odie Green, Fouke, AR - 227 13. #1a Ronny Adams, Greenwood, LA - 222 14. #6s Scott Slay, Clinton, MS - 216 15. #85 Curt Lipsey, Hammond, LA - 201 16. #77 Kennith Crowe, Port Allen, LA - 185 17. #8c Keith Craft, Arkadelphia, AR – 182 18. #8 Dennis Duncan, Terry, MS – 168 19. #10 Bubba Mullins, West Monroe, LA – 164 19. #23 Bill Avant, West Monroe, LA 164
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